September-October The Best from Slovenia IN FOCUS Slovenian writers – the strong voice of the nation EDITORIAL Photo: Mateja Jordovič Potočnik Jordovič Mateja Photo: Moscow 2320 km SLOVENIAN INFORMATION London www.slovenia.si Berlin www.ukom.gov.si 1550 km 990 km SLOVENIAN WRITERS ON Vienna Paris Published by THE GREAT ISSUES OF LIFE 380 km Government Communication Office 1250 km Editor-in-Chief The world is out of joint, but that does not stop writers from writing. Do they actually believe that Petra Ložar the written word still has the power to change and improve our lives? Is the world really more LJUBLJANA Belgrade out of kilter today than it ever has been? Or is this impression the result of the dictatorship of Executive Editor social networks, the absolutism of instantaneity and reality show lifestyles? Perhaps writers write 540 km Vesna Žarkovič simply because they feel they need to. Sometimes, as if by miracle, their words touch people, stir and open up something inside them, something conscious or subconscious. Awakening Editorial Board people from different types of stupor, immediate as it may be, is the greatest achievement of Danila Golob, Uroš Mahkovec, Danila Mašić, literature. “I have no illusions that I can change the world,” says writer Goran Vojnović in his joint Polona Prešeren, Livija Kovač Kostantinovič interview with Boštjan Videmšek. Madrid Ankara Design What has happened over the last two decades that has shifted the overall social focus towards 2060 km Rome 1940 km Irena Kogoj a negativity that sees nothing but apocalypse, crisis of values, and the demise of humanity? Are we still capable of true art criticism and reflection? 760 km Photo Editor Foto format d.o.o. As we move further into the 21st century, the number of living witnesses to the horrors of the 20th century declines. One of the few left is Boris Pahor, a 103-year-old Slovenian writer who Photo on the front page spent 14 months as a political prisoner in various Nazi concentration camps. He says that today Palermo Matej Pušnik he is filled with a sense of optimism and faith in love: A“ s a centenarian, and a survivor of many Translation concentration camps, I tell you that nothing matters, no economy, no political party, left or right, Secretariat-General of the Government of nothing except love. Love for our planet is also important: if the 20th century was about fighting Iraklio the Republic of Slovenia, Translation and totalitarianism, the 21st century has to fight against climate change.” Interpretation Division, DZTPS “I am often criticised for not writing ‘typical’ Slovenian literature. Supposedly, my books are Language editing overly positive, and I too Americanised because I still believe that we can influence things and Amidas change them. I won’t apologise for that,” says writer Miha Mazzini. Lojze Kovačič, arguably the most exciting author of 20th century Slovenian literature, focused on three things throughout Copy writer editing his writing career: man, life and the world. It is pointless wondering whether any other topic Marcus Ferrar could excite him as much. Kovačič was on a perpetual quest for answers, which he sought in all his writings about death, God, love in all its might, and, not lastly, creation, which was for him Print “the only excuse for living”. Collegium Graphicum d.o.o., Slovenia This issue was made in cooperation with the Slovenian Book Agency. Number of copies 3500 ISSN Vesna Žarkovič, Executive Editor 1854-0805 Sinfo - Slovenian information 3 CONTENT CONTENT 18 12 TEN SLOVENE AUTHORS YOU SHOULD KNOW Introducing some of our literary stars 22 18 LOJZE KOVAčič The most exciting author of 20th century Slovenian literature 22 SLOVENIAN PHILOSOPHERS Facts and gossip about the Žižek 26 BORIS PAHOR The life optimist who survived concentration camps 12 30 VIDEMšEK & VOJNOVić A hard-hitting duo 36 MIHA MAZZINI, WRITER “There is no democracy without proper structure” 40 FOUR POetesses Strong voices of Slovene poetry 46 GROWING UP WITH A BOOK Encouraging young people to read 26 30 60 TOURISM AND LITERATURE Poetry of nature, nature of poetry 68 SLOVENIA’S ALEKSANDER čEFERIN New UEFA president 46 70 RIO 2016 OLYMPICS Medals for the Slovenian team 76 BLED STRATEGIC FORUM TACKLES SECURITY ISSUES 36 70 76 More participants than ever 4 Government Communication Office Sinfo - Slovenian information 5 LITERATURE: THE ESSENCE OF SloVENIANS Literature, culture and language define Slovenians as a nation. Of these three, literature has always been our greatest weapon: the Bible was written in the Slovene language already 400 years before the independent Slovenian state was founded. Literature captures the essence of man, merges time and immortality, and reaches beyond superficiality and common sense. Photo: Mostphotos Photo: IN FOCUS SMALL COUNTRY: BIG LITERATURE Excellent opportunities abroad RENATA ZAMIDA Small Country - Big Literature is the name a German radio gave to a recent programme on new translations of Slovenian literature into German. The world is connected as never before, so lesser used languages are no longer disadvantaged. Slovenian authors and Slovenian literature now have excellent opportunities to find readers across the globe. Before 1991, it was very rare for a book of a Slovenian author to be have been translated in comparison to novels, which are otherwise released abroad, especially in the West, and every publication rep- the most commonly translated genre. The poets also prevail with resented a significant milestone (i.e. 1965, Srečko Kosovel, in French; regard to the number of target languages which their works have 1981, Florjan Lipuš, in German; 1988, Tomaž šalamun, in English been translated into – poetry of Tomaž šalamun has been trans- etc.). Slovenia’s domestic cultural audience was thrilled each time, lated into more than 20 languages. However, it is the frequently and local media seized upon the news. However, in the past twenty awarded novelist and playwright Drago Jančar, who is one of the years, translation into different languages and by various publishers most translated contemporary Slovenian writers. became a permanent feature in the Slovenian literary life. Ever since Slovenia became an independent state in 1991, each year around 70 books written by Slovenian fiction authors are issued in various Nevertheless, Slovenia remains the land languages and published by numerous publishers abroad, while of poets. many works are also written by Slovenian humanists and science writers, among whom one should mention philosophers Slavoj Historically speaking, the Slovenian language had never been rec- Žižek, Mladen Dolar, Alenka Zupančič and Renata Salecl. The selec- ognised as an official language on this territory before the declara- tion of works written by Slovenian authors and published abroad tion of independence, even though the first known records written is further complemented by those written by authors of children’s in the Slovenian language date back to 1000. At the intersection literature, including Lila Prap, a well-known international writer. of the Austro-Hungarian and Balkan heritage, Slovenia was always subject to strong external influences (including linguistic), but has nevertheless managed to preserve its identity. Slovenians are a According to currently available data, the nation of writers and poets, and only a few European states have number of translations of Slovenian lit- as many literary artists as this two-million state covering around erature is far above the global and Euro- 24,000 km2 of territory. Moreover, according to data on the number pean average with regard to the number of published books per million inhabitants, Slovenia ranks second, immediately after the United Kingdom (source: The Economist). of speakers the language has. The literary part of this magazine offers an insight into the Slo- However, the export of Slovenian literature is mostly limited to venian literature and a treasury of Slovenian books that are well what Americans call quality literature. worth reading as well as authors that are worth knowing about. In the future, the Slovenian literature will frequently be in the spot- SloVENIA – A LAND OF POETS light again since Slovenia is a candidate for the Guest of Honour at the 2021 Frankfurt Book Fair. Our objective is to prepare a compre- Even though this is quite unusual in view of the current global situ- hensive presentation of Slovenia, which will, besides Slovenian lit- ation, the most widely read Slovenian authors include poets, which erature and culture, also highlight tourism prospects and creative is also reflected in exported Slovenian literature; in the past twenty potential in other areas, and represent an opportunity for Slove- Photo: Matej Pušnik Matej Photo: years, almost twice as many poetry collections (more than 500) nian authors to present themselves to readers on a global level. 8 Government Communication Office Sinfo - Slovenian information 9 IN FOCUS IN FOCUS Aleš Novak, director of the Slovenian Book Agency, on Slovenia’s ambition to hold the Guest of Honour title at the Frankfurt Book Fair “The project will allow Slovenian authors to present themselves to Europe and the world, espe- cially through reputable foreign publishing houses with a well-diversified distribution and ad- equate book promotion. I consider it as one of the best opportunities for the Slovenian literary creativity, culture and Slovenia itself to get established in the international environment. With a successful implementation of the planned activities we will improve the recognisability of Slove- Anton Peršak, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia nia and encourage international cooperation and participation in many areas since the positive The Slovenian language has always been of key importance for the existence of Slovenians. While effects of the project will not be limited only to the field of culture. The preparations are going other nations fought for their existence by force, Slovenians chose a different path, gaining rec- well, which fills us with hope and optimism.” ognition through the language and language-based culture.